A system for sensing proximity using EHF signals may include a communication circuit configured to transmit via a transducer an EM signal at an EHF frequency, and a proximity sensing circuit configured to sense a nearby transducer field-modifying object by detecting characteristics of a signal within the communication circuit. A system for determining distance using EHF signals may include a detecting circuit coupled to a transmitting communication circuit and a receiving communication circuit, both communication circuits being mounted on a first surface. The transmitting communication circuit may transmit a signal toward a second surface, and the receiving communication circuit may receive a signal relayed from the second surface. The detecting circuit may determine distance between the first surface and a second surface based on propagation characteristics of the signals.
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1. A communication system comprising: a first amplifier configured to receive a radio frequency input signal and generate a first amplified output signal having an extremely high frequency (EHF) component; a transducer having a first terminal and a second terminal operatively coupled to receive the first amplified output signal from the first amplifier, the transducer configured to transform the first amplified output signal to an electromagnetic signal operating in the EHF band of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum; and a proximity-sensing circuit, comprising: a reference circuit comprising a second amplifier coupled to receive the radio frequency input signal and generate a second amplified output signal having an EHF component, and an impedance component coupled to receive the second amplified output signal, and a detection circuit configured to: detect a reference amplitude voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of the impedance component, detect an amplitude of a composite signal voltage across the first terminal and the second terminal of the transducer, compare the detected reference amplitude voltage and the detected amplitude of the composite signal voltage, and generate an indication of proximity of the communication system to an object based on the comparison.
A proximity sensing system uses extremely high frequency (EHF) radio waves. It contains a first amplifier that boosts a radio frequency signal into the EHF range, and a transducer (like an antenna) that converts the amplified signal into an EHF electromagnetic wave for transmission. A proximity-sensing circuit monitors the transmitted signal. This circuit includes a reference circuit with a second amplifier generating a second EHF signal, and an impedance component. The system detects the amplitude voltage across the impedance component as a baseline reference. It also detects the amplitude of the signal voltage across the transducer. By comparing these voltages, the system determines if an object is near the transducer, indicating proximity.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the impedance component has a value equivalent to an impedance of the transducer when the object is in a reference position relative to a position of the transducer.
In the proximity sensing system described in Claim 1, the impedance component's electrical resistance or opposition to current flow is set to match the transducer's impedance when an object is at a defined reference distance. This matching allows for more accurate detection of changes caused by objects moving closer or further away from the transducer, enabling better proximity sensing.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a first transformer coupled between an output of the first amplifier and the first and second terminals of the transducer.
Building upon the proximity sensing system detailed in Claim 1, a transformer is added between the first amplifier's output and the transducer's input. This transformer matches the impedance between the amplifier and transducer, improving signal transfer and maximizing the power radiated by the transducer. This can lead to increased sensing range and sensitivity in the EHF proximity detection system.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second transformer coupled between an output of the second amplifier and the first and second terminals of the impedance component.
In the proximity sensing system of Claim 1, a transformer is placed between the second amplifier’s output (part of the reference circuit) and the impedance component. This transformer provides impedance matching to ensure efficient signal transfer between the amplifier and the impedance component, optimizing the reference signal and leading to more precise and reliable proximity detection.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transducer is an antenna.
The proximity sensing system, as described in Claim 1, utilizes an antenna as the transducer to transmit and potentially receive the EHF electromagnetic signal. The antenna radiates the amplified EHF signal, and changes in the antenna's characteristics (like impedance) due to nearby objects are detected to indicate proximity.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the impedance component is a resistor.
The proximity sensing system detailed in Claim 1 employs a resistor as the impedance component in the reference circuit. The resistor provides a known impedance for comparison against the transducer's impedance. The voltage across this resistor serves as a reference point for detecting changes in the transducer's impedance when an object approaches.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indication corresponds to an impedance change in the transducer caused by the presence of the object.
In the proximity sensing system of Claim 1, the indication of proximity is directly related to how the transducer's impedance changes when an object gets closer. The presence of an object alters the electromagnetic field around the transducer, causing its impedance to shift. The system detects this change and interprets it as an object being nearby.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the detection circuit is further configured to: compare a difference between the detected reference amplitude voltage and the detected amplitude of the composite signal voltage with a specified threshold reference level; and generate the indication of proximity of the communication system to the object based on the comparison of the difference between the detected reference amplitude voltage and the detected amplitude of the composite signal voltage with a specified threshold reference level.
Expanding on the proximity sensing system in Claim 1, the system compares the difference between the reference voltage and the transducer voltage to a predefined threshold. If this difference exceeds the threshold, it triggers the proximity indication. This threshold-based approach provides a more robust and reliable proximity detection, reducing false positives caused by minor variations in signal levels.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first amplifier and the second amplifier are equivalent components.
In the proximity sensing system of Claim 1, the first amplifier (driving the transducer) and the second amplifier (in the reference circuit) are identical or equivalent components. This ensures that both signals have similar characteristics, improving the accuracy of the comparison between the reference voltage and the transducer signal voltage.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first transformer and the second transformer are equivalent components.
In the proximity sensing system of Claim 1, the first transformer (between the first amplifier and the transducer) and the second transformer (between the second amplifier and the impedance component) are identical or equivalent components. This ensures that both signal paths have similar impedance matching characteristics, improving the accuracy and stability of the proximity detection.
11. A method comprising: receiving a radio frequency input signal; amplifying the input signal by a first amplifier to generate a first amplified output signal having an extremely high frequency (EHF) component; transforming, by a transducer, the first amplified output signal into an electromagnetic signal operating in the EHF band of the electromagnetic frequency spectrum; receiving, by a proximity-sensing circuit, the input signal; generating, by the proximity-sensing circuit, a second amplified output signal having an EHF component; detecting a reference amplitude voltage between a first terminal and a second terminal of an impedance component coupled to receive the second amplified output signal; detecting an amplitude of a composite signal voltage across a first terminal and a second terminal of the transducer; comparing the detected reference amplitude voltage and the detected amplitude of the composite signal voltage; and generating an indication of proximity of the communication system to an object based on the comparison.
A method for proximity sensing uses extremely high frequency (EHF) signals. First, a radio frequency input signal is amplified using a first amplifier to create an EHF output signal. This amplified signal is then converted into an EHF electromagnetic wave using a transducer for transmission. Simultaneously, the input signal is processed by a proximity-sensing circuit. This circuit amplifies the input signal again to generate another EHF signal. The system then detects the voltage across an impedance component as a reference. It detects the voltage across the transducer, compares both voltages, and determines if an object is nearby based on that comparison.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the impedance component has a value equivalent to an impedance of the transducer when the object is in a reference position relative to a position of the transducer.
In the proximity sensing method as described in Claim 11, the impedance component's electrical resistance or opposition to current flow is set to match the transducer's impedance when an object is at a defined reference distance. This matching allows for more accurate detection of changes caused by objects moving closer or further away from the transducer, enabling better proximity sensing.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the transducer is an antenna.
In the proximity sensing method, as described in Claim 11, an antenna is used as the transducer to transmit and potentially receive the EHF electromagnetic signal. The antenna radiates the amplified EHF signal, and changes in the antenna's characteristics (like impedance) due to nearby objects are detected to indicate proximity.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the impedance component is a resistor.
In the proximity sensing method, as described in Claim 11, a resistor is used as the impedance component. The resistor provides a known impedance for comparison against the transducer's impedance. The voltage across this resistor serves as a reference point for detecting changes in the transducer's impedance when an object approaches.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the indication corresponds to an impedance change in the transducer caused by the presence of the object.
In the proximity sensing method of Claim 11, the indication of proximity is directly related to how the transducer's impedance changes when an object gets closer. The presence of an object alters the electromagnetic field around the transducer, causing its impedance to shift. The system detects this change and interprets it as an object being nearby.
16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising: comparing a difference between the detected reference amplitude voltage and the detected amplitude of the composite signal voltage with a specified threshold reference level; and generating the indication of proximity of the communication system to the object based on the comparison of the difference between the detected reference amplitude voltage and the detected amplitude of the composite signal voltage with a specified threshold reference level.
The proximity sensing method described in Claim 11 includes comparing the difference between the reference voltage and the transducer voltage to a predefined threshold. If this difference exceeds the threshold, it triggers the proximity indication. This threshold-based approach provides a more robust and reliable proximity detection, reducing false positives caused by minor variations in signal levels.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 12, 2016
August 1, 2017
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